ELECTRIC LIGHTING IN PARIS.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3079, 30 December 1878, Page 1

ELECTRIC LIGHTING IN PARIS.

A correspondent at Paris sends us some account of the various methods of electric lighting which have been exhibited there. The writer says that although at the Gaiety Theatre in London six M¥? °nlJ v .w» produced by one machine, he has seen machines of the same size in Paris producing from twelve to sixteen lights continuously for months ; and there is no doubt, from what has been done by the patentees co-operating in what is termed the Loutin system, that as many as twelve currents can be obtained from one .Loutin machine, and four lights readily placed upon each one ot the twelve currents. , Of coarse, each light under such conditions would be touch less powerful than any one of the six lights shown at the Gaiety Theatre; but they . are 'preferable for illuminating purposes, and, dndeedi it would be an advantage that they should be still further divided. The Lyons [Railway Station in Paris was lighted up for three months continuously by one of these machines, giving sixteen powerful lights, replacing nearly 200 gas jets with very great advantage," and so that the men were able to dispense with the use of lanterns, which they had hitherto carried in performing their work. The luggage quay of the Western Eailway in Paris has also been lighted for several months, with six,lights, produced by a 'small machine, and with the same satisifactory results. The large hall from which the passengers pass for Versailles and the . neighboring lines were also flighted for a short period, as well as the :facade of the station, and twelve lights were produced by a machine identical with that now in use at the Gaiety jTheatre. Our correspondent goes on to say:—• " I have seen many explanations ;of the probable cost of electric light; but no one seems to have pointed out that the elements of cost are exceedingly simple, and consist—l. Of the coal consumed in the steam-engine, which projduces the motive power; 2. The carbon •points dissipated by the light in the lamp; and 3. The supervision. If to ■ this be added a fair allowance for the wear 'and tear of the steam-engine, and a proportion about half as large for that of the electrical machine, which will be a very ample allowance, you have all the elements of cost. Under ordinary eon* ditions, and with a decent engine, a lamp such as those of which I am speaking, and * equal to 100 carpel burners, would require to produce it one-horse power, which with coals at £1 per ton represents a cost of rather less than per hour. Where Icoals are 10s per ton, the cost would be id per-hour. The carbon points at the present time, in consequence of their not being manufactured on a commercial scale, cost as much as 2d per hour per lamp, but there is no reason why this price should continue,-ih©-fttrin«io-T*luo .of -thm. _ materials employed' being notoriously ! small. - With respect to the supervision 1 one intelligent man can look after twenty '. lamps as easily as five, and if he were' , paid even ss. for the few hours' work, this would nof be more than |di per hour and per lamp. I have spoken of the Loutin system because I am more conversant with" this than with the others, and because it is well.to establish the progress already mads; but «o many new method* appear to be coming forward that we may fairly hope to see electric lighting become both cheap and simple."—Pali Mall Gazette.